The Reborn Sidekick Rejected The Male Lead-Chapter 41 - Encounter in the Courtyard

Chapter 41: Chapter 41: Encounter in the Courtyard

Chapter 41 -41: Encounter in the Courtyard

Lu Jingqiu dealt with the fish she had bought, and rendered the pork rind into savoury lard. She then used the freshly rendered oil to coat the two fish in flour and fried them.

Lu Jingqiu loved eating savory lard the most, but she couldn’t eat it all. She planned to use the lard to stuff buns, with radish filling.

Their unit had a holiday on the 26th of the year, which was still three days away, so the buns could be made a few days later.

Today was Little New Year, and Dad said there was no need to eat at home because the canteen’s food for Little New Year would be more abundant than at home.

After preparing these things, Lu Xianrun came back at this moment, carrying several lunch boxes.

“Qiuqiu, come quickly, dumplings with pork and scallions, a serving of shredded potatoes, and a serving of cabbage stewed with meat.”

Lu Jingqiu picked out a few pieces of the savory lard as a side dish: “Dad, I bought pork rind today, and two fish too.”

“Alright, you decide what to buy. Besides drinking a few glasses with your uncle during the New Year, we don’t have many relatives visiting. However, if you come across grain, oil, or candy, buy some more, not too much though. When the time comes, save some tickets, and Dad will mail them to your uncles and elder brothers in the countryside.”

These uncles and elder brothers were Dad’s old comrades-in-arms, some demobilized to civilian life, some returned to the village, and others left with only the old, weak, and children. Every year during the New Year, Dad would mail out some parcels, which in previous years had always been prepared by Mom.

Grain, oil, and candy were just an excuse. For some struggling families, Dad would stuff money and tickets into the parcels.

“Even if we don’t have relatives, we still have friends. Dad can invite Uncle Zheng, Uncle Yang, and others for a drink. What if your disciples visit us at home? You, as a leader, have to prepare meals for them. I’ll take care of things for the other uncles’ and elder brothers’ homes these next few days.”

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“I’ve thought it through. Tomorrow I’ll queue up again to buy two chickens. Auntie said that giving her five pounds of meat would be enough, and to get another pound of fatty pork belly. Auntie said she would teach me to make meat in a clay pot.”

Lu Xianrun listened to his daughter’s plans while serving her food and said with a smile, “That’s a good plan. My Qiuqiu has grown up. Your mom would be very pleased if she saw this from heaven.”

“Yeah, Mom must be very happy.”

“By the way, today I heard from Uncle Gao that Gao Shu is back. Qiuqiu, Dad wants to say…”

“Dad, I know what you want to say. I’ve told you I’ve given up on Gao Shu, and I meant it. Didn’t you see that when we were in Ten-miles Village? We are just ordinary friends now, with no hard feelings, no jealousy.”

Lu Xianrun listened to his daughter explain so clearly and laughed helplessly. He was worried about her reaction upon hearing that Gao Shu had returned with his wife.

In her previous life, Lu Jingqiu indeed had such feelings and couldn’t let go. When Xia Lin, with her big belly, came to visit her at the sanatorium and flaunted her affection in front of her, she naturally couldn’t bear it and had a very unhappy time.

Later, she learned that Xia Lin’s life wasn’t as good as it seemed on the surface, and she gradually let go.

…

Lu Jingqiu’s work hours were from nine to five, and Lu Xianrun usually cooked breakfast because he got up early, knowing his daughter liked to sleep in.

However, today Lu Jingqiu got up when she heard noises from Dad downstairs because she wanted to go to the farmers’ market to queue up for dried goods and fruits.

During the New Year period, fruits were scarce, and if one was late, there’d be none to buy.

“Dad, I won’t eat today; I’m going to the farmers’ market.”

“The farmers’ market is crowded at this hour. Tell me what you want, and I’ll go.”

“No need, Dad, you have to go to the army unit in a while, and I have plenty of time. Dad, don’t forget to prepare something for Hua Hua to eat.”

“Got it.”

Since Zhou Lanping left, Lu Xianrun paid special attention to Hua Hua. The cat was a memory left to him and his daughter by his wife.

Hua Hua was now eating better than both father and daughter, getting meat every now and then. With a cat toilet and cozy cat bed, Hua Hua was living comfortably. Lu Xianrun joked with his colleagues that their cat had come to their home to enjoy the good life.

Lu Jingqiu had queued up since a little past six and, by slightly after seven, bought five sticks of cured meat, five pounds of persimmon cakes, and five pounds of apples. In winter, that was pretty much the only fruit available, and getting fresh, large apples was a matter of luck. Today, she was lucky; not only did she find large apples, but she also secured persimmon cakes.

After getting home, she divided the persimmon cakes and apples into two portions and took one of them to her aunt’s house.

“Auntie, I managed to buy some fruits today and brought some for you, along with a pound of cured meat.”

When Lu Jingqiu entered the Yang Family home, only her aunt was there, having breakfast alone: “Where are uncle and Second cousin?”

“Your uncle left early, and your Second cousin hardly ever comes home, not even for a day or half a month. Even when he’s off work, he stays in his dorm; I don’t know what keeps him so busy all the time. Your eldest cousin is already dating someone, while he is still muddling along aimlessly.”

“Second cousin must be busy earning money.”

“I’ve never seen him bring a single cent home.”

Lu Jingqiu chuckled quietly, not daring to snitch.

“Qiuqiu, I bumped into Zhao Hong yesterday and only then did I find out that Gao Shu came back with his wife. Did you know about that?”

“I knew.”

“Your auntie is telling you, no matter how good Gao Shu is, he’s someone else’s now, and we can’t be doing anything that goes against morals. There are so many outstanding men out there. Take your eldest cousin, for example, he’s not the only one. Just look at the army, we have such conveniences. Your dad, your uncle-in-law, your eldest cousin, they all know quite a few men who are better than Gao Shu. When your mom passed away, her biggest concern was your marriage. Your auntie promised your mom she would help you find someone a thousand, no, a million times better than Gao Shu.”

“Auntie, I’m only twenty-one this year.”

“Twenty-one and still small? At twenty-one, there are plenty of girls who’ve already had two kids.”

“Auntie, I’ve definitely not averse to finding someone and getting married, but I’m thinking of taking the college entrance exam next year.”

Zhou Lanqin paused scooping porridge and said, “You want to compete with Gao Shu and the others… Well, it’s good to compete. I heard his wife took this year’s college entrance exams, and there’s a good chance she will get in.”

“Auntie, they’ve only been back for a day or two, where did you hear that from?”

“Zhang Cuihua said so.”

“Aunt Cuihua’s mouth is notorious in our courtyard. Don’t listen to her. I have to go to work now, auntie, do you need to buy anything else for the New Year? I can queue up after work.”

Zhou Lanqin worked at a state-owned restaurant, and she had a holiday until the 29th of the year. There were still many things at home she hadn’t bought: “I do, I do.” Saying this, she pulled out some tickets and money from her pocket and handed them to Lu Jingqiu: “You help me buy some things for girls, like Fragrant Cream and stuff.”

“Auntie, do you need it? I have some at home.”

Zhou Lanqin smiled and waved her hand: “It’s for your future sister-in-law. She’ll be visiting our house this year as a relative. I need to get something you girls like.”

“Really? Okay, leave it to me.”

“I trust you have good taste, you’ll put your auntie’s mind at ease.”

“Auntie, I should get going then, mission assured.”

It took Lu Jingqiu more than thirty minutes to bike from the army courtyard to the publishing house. Yesterday she had completed her tasks, so today was more relaxed. Not just her, the three people in the editorial design department also had nothing much to do, the entire publishing house was already in holiday mode.

Today the president let the finance department go to the farmers’ market to order New Year’s benefits.

The editorial department was having an end-of-year meeting, and in the afternoon, they joined in as well.

The day passed just like that, and after work, Lu Jingqiu went straight to the department store on her bike. She bought two boxes of Fragrant Cream, scented soap, several pounds of candy, some cakes, and brown sugar.

Knowing her eldest cousin’s significant other was also in the military, she bought clam oil that could be used as hand cream.

Besides these, Lu Jingqiu also bought some dried vegetables for her auntie and happily biked home.

But just as she entered the courtyard’s gate, she ran into Gao Shu and Xia Lin.

Gao Shu wore a military green Zhongshan suit, while Xia Lin was dressed in a plaid wool coat with a ponytail tied behind her, looking fresh and radiant. Compared to her, who wore an old military coat from her father, Xia Lin looked more like a city dweller.

As Lu Jingqiu looked at them, slightly dazed in thought, Xia Lin spoke up first: “Comrade Jingqiu, long time no see. I heard you’ve started working and won’t have to go back to Ten-miles Village anymore. I’m really jealous of you.”

“Ten-miles Village has clear waters and beautiful scenery, both the landscape and the people are good. Comrade Xia Lin, why do you make it sound like it’s a bad thing to go back to Ten-miles Village to contribute? Don’t you like your Ten-miles Village?”

“How could that be?”

“I heard you both took part in the college entrance exams. Congratulations to both of you.”

Gao Shu, standing to the side, said while looking on: “Thanks, Jingqiu, and please accept my condolences for your auntie’s passing.”

Lu Jingqiu nodded her head as a response, and then said, “I should get going, goodbye.”

Xia Lin, however, smiled and said: “I heard you and Gao Qing are close friends. Gao Qing came back last night, why didn’t you pay her a visit?”

“Everyone’s busy, it’s not convenient, and you must be busy too, I won’t disturb you.”

With that, she pushed her bike and walked home, her face showing little change, but her heart was filled with many questions.